A group of eight volunteers from Dalata Hotel Group, Ireland’s largest hotel operator, arrived in Belfast, as part of their 1,100-kilometre cycle around the island of Ireland in aid of Air Ambulance NI, The Marie Keating Foundation, and Leukaemia Care.
With a target of €30,000, the funds raised will contribute to efforts that offer urgent care for individuals with serious injuries in Northern Ireland, support the early detection of cancer in Ireland and provide crucial assistance to patients and families in need of the Car-T treatment, a life-saving cancer immunotherapy delivered in a small number of hospitals in the UK.
Wheels turned at 7am in Dublin on Friday, as the cyclists set off from the Maldron Hotel Dublin Airport. Passing through Belfast, Derry, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork, and Wexford, the cycle will stop by several of the Group’s hotels along the way, before finishing on Friday 8 September in the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, Dublin.
Dalata Digs Deep Month
This mammoth cycle forms part of the annual Dalata Digs Deep initiative, which involves numerous fundraising activities at all 52 of the Company’s hotels across Ireland, the UK and continental Europe for the full month of September.
These fundraising activities have raised €1.77 million over the past seven years, which include corporate donations from Dalata Hotel Group. Previous charity partners, which have benefitted from the initiative include CHI Crumlin in Ireland and Great Ormond Street Hospital in the UK.
As they embark on the Great Dalata Cycle for the fourth year, the fundraising team invites everyone to join its efforts and support these charities. People can contribute to this year’s fundraising campaign online by visiting https://www.idonate.ie/event/greatdalatacycle2023.
Niall Macklin, Dalata Hotel Group Senior Manager and cycling team leader said: “Air Ambulance NI, Marie Keating Foundation, and Leukaemia Care are charitable causes close to our hearts and we’re thrilled to embark once more on this journey around Ireland in aid of our new partners.
“This event underlines our continuous dedication to making a positive impact within the communities where our hotels are situated. It’s truly wonderful to witness all our hotels engaging in fundraising efforts individually alongside the cycling initiative. We believe together, we are not just raising funds, but also inspiring positive change.”
Colleen Milligan, Business Development & Project Manager at Air Ambulance NI said: “We want to say a huge thank you to the 8 incredible cyclists taking on the challenge of cycling their way around the island to raise funds for three charities providing vital services in our community.
“The Dalata Diggs Deep initiative takes place throughout the month of September when we at Air Ambulance NI also celebrate Air Ambulance Week. The funds raised during this time will help our helicopter lift off and fly to critically ill and injured patients.
“On average, the air ambulance service is needed twice a day and the doctor and paramedic on board provide critical interventions that can be the difference between life and death.
“It really is about bringing the hospital direct to the patient and is only possible with continued support. We’d like to pay tribute to all the Dalata staff who go above and beyond when it comes to organising fundraising activities and wish them all the very best for a successful and fun month of raising charitable funds!”
